DNA testing startup Veritas Genetics exposes customer info in data breach

It hasnt disclosed the exact nature of the breach, the kind of information that was accessed, when it became aware of the incident, and for how long the portal lay exposed.

Veritas Genetics stated only a handful of customers were potentially affected by the breach and that it launched a forensic investigation upon learning of the unauthorized access to its customer-facing system.

The product helps consumers determine the genetic drivers behind cancer, cardiovasculardisease, and immune and neurological disorders based on results gleaned from whole-genome sequencing.

It also provides customers with an assessment of the health risksthey may face in later life and if theyre likely to have an allergic reaction to more than 200 drugs that treat conditions such as depression, asthma, and diabetes.

Veritas Geneticscompetes with rivals such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com in the market as it aims to make genome sequencing tests cheaper and more affordable.

The development comes as a game changer warrant was obtained by the Florida police department to penetrate GEDmatch an open data personal genomics service and search its entire database of nearly one million users, a move that could set a precedent and have significant implications for genetic privacy.

Whats more, researchers last month demonstrated multiple vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to upload fraudulent DNA profiles by impersonating someones relative to create family matches inGEDmatch.

At the same time, using these services usually involves giving up relinquishing deeply personal information, necessitating that users beaware of exactly how much information they might be relinquishing in exchange forresearching family history or learning about their genetic makeup.